Game Recaps: Saturday 8/22

Aeros Not Hit In Loss

Thad Weber went the distance and delivered Erie's first no-hitter as a member of the Eastern League, baffling Akron in a 16-0 blowout before 3,917 fans at Jerry Uht Park Saturday night. It was the second time the Aeros had been no-hit in franchise history, with the only other occasion coming April 23rd, 2002 against Altoona. The SeaWolves, who had not thrown a no-hitter since 1995 as a short-season team in the New York-Penn League, improved to 65-59 while Akron fell to 77-48. However, the Aeros lowered their magic number to eight to clinch the Southern Division title thanks to Reading's loss at New Britain.

Erie went right to work offensively in support of Weber, as Michael Bertram socked a two-run homer in the second and Chris White followed two batters later with a solo shot to give the SeaWolves an early 3-0 against Akron starter Josh Tomlin. Deik Scram added a solo homer of his own in the third to make it 4-0, and everything fell apart for the Aeros in the bottom of the fourth.

Tomlin opened the inning with a walk to Bertram, but then got Santo de Leon to fly to center and induced a tailor-made double play ball from White that should have ended the inning. Lonnie Chisenhall picked the ball cleanly at third base, but Cristo Arnal dropped the throw at second as both runners were safe and the inning continued. Jeff Kunkel then delivered the back-breaker, drilling a three-run homer just two pitches later to push the margin to 7-0.

It got no better from there, as a bloop single, a double, and a walk loaded the bases with still just one out. Tomlin then worked another ground ball that had a chance to become a double play and end the inning, but this time shortstop Carlos Rivero dropped Arnal's throw as a run scored and all hands were safe. That spelled the end for Tomlin, but reliever Zach Putnam allowed all three inherited runners to score as Tomlin was eventually charged with 11 runs (six earned), tying an Aeros single-game record.

The SeaWolves tacked on five more runs over the next three innings, meaning the top of the ninth was devoid of any drama outside of whether Akron could get a hit off Weber. Arnal, who broke up a no-hit bid by New Britain just eight days ago, lined out softly to shortstop Danny Worth on the first pitch of the ninth for the first out. Jose Constanza then struck out swinging on three pitches, and after getting two called strikes on Josh Rodriguez Weber climbed the ladder and struck out the Aeros DH on a high fastball to end things.

Weber (7-3) was simply magnificent, allowing just two base runners all night (Arnal reached on an error in the third and Matt McBride was hit by a pitch in the eighth). He walked none and struck out a season-high 10. Tomlin (12-9) was knocked out after 3.1 innings, allowing a season-high four home runs and becoming the fifth Akron pitcher and first since Eric DuBose on August 27th, 2007 to allow 11 runs in a game.

The Aeros will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. with game three of this four-game series. Left-hander Scott Barnes (1-0, 4.35 ERA) goes for Akron while Erie southpaw Ramon Garcia (2-3, 5.73 ERA) will have a tough act to follow.

Kinston at Wilmington Suspended in the third inning

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Kinston at Wilmington was suspended due to rain Saturday night in Delaware. The game will be picked up Sunday at noon. After the conclusion of the suspended game, the final game of the series (a seven inning game) will be played.

Kinston took an early 1-0 lead when Alex Castillo drove Kyle Haines home with an RBI single in the top of the second inning. Wilmington evened the score in the bottom of the frame when Jamar Walton scored on an RBI single from Chase Fontaine.

Captains Stunned by Lakewood

The Lakewood BlueClaws scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind to defeat the Lake County Captains 4-3 on Saturday. The Captains outhit the Claws 12-4 in the game.

The Captains jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Delvi Cid singled and stole second. Mark Thompson single home Cid and went to second on the throw to the plate. Thompson scored on a double by Chris Nash and then he scored on a single from Donnie Webb. The BlueClaws scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI double by Jim Murphy that scored Anthony Gose to cut the lead to 3-1. The BlueClaws got the go ahead RBI from Vladimir De Los Santos in the eighth inning.

Captains starter Nick Hagadone did not get a decision going three scoreless innings allowing one walk while striking out five. Danny Salazar (5-6) came on in the fourth inning and went five innings allowing four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two and took the loss. BlueClaws starter Matthew Way did not get a decision working six innings and allowing three runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out eight. Jordan Ellis (4-3) pitched two scoreless innings to get the win. Ryan Bergh pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get his 13th save of the year.

The Captains and Lakewood play game two of series on Sunday at 5:05 PM. The Captains will send RHP Trey Haley (3-7, 5.85) to the hill to face RHP Heitor Correa (7-6, 3.67).

Scrappers Win 11-9

On Saturday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers played game four of a six game road trip and beat the Auburn Doubledays 11-9. With the Scrappers win and Williamsport Crosscutters 7-1 loss to the Jamestown Jammers, the Mahoning Valley lead in the Pinckney Division has grown to six games.

Scrappers starter Marty Popham pitched the first five innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out seven. Austin Adams worked the next two innings and allowed three runs. Tyler Sturdevant pitched the next inning and two third and allowed three runs on four hits while recording his second victory of the season. Guido Fonseca recorded the final out to record his fourth save in five chances.

The Doubledays took an early lead with two three run home runs, one in the 4th and one in the 7th and after seven innings it was 6-1 Auburn. In the top of the 8th the Scrappers sent nine men to the plate scoring five runs on five hits, with the big blow coming off the bat of Chun Chen who hit a three run home run, his first of the season. In the top of the 9th the Scrappers again sent nine men to the plate and scored another five runs on five hits. Casey Frawley drove home the Scrappers seventh run of the game with an RBI single to center field, Jason Kipnis followed with an RBI double. The Doubledays then walked Chen to load the bases for Greg Folgia, who followed with a single that scored two runs. Jesus Brito then followed with a RBI ground out to drive home the final run of the inning. In the bottom of the 9th the Doubledays attempted a come back scoring three runs, but it was not enough to pull out the win as Mahoning Valley recoded the 11-9 come from behind victory.

Sunday, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers face the Auburn Doubledays in the second of a three game series Vidal Nuno is scheduled to make the start for the Scrappers; he is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA.

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